194 "The Flower Garden [Chapter 



flowers they must be left in the window until through 

 blooming. Tulips, Crocus, and Scillas should be 

 potted and placed out of doors where they will not 

 be disturbed, covered with earth and left until freez- 

 ing weather, when they should be stored in the cellar 

 like other bulbs. It is well in placing bulbs out of. 

 doors to set the pots in beds of coal-ashes to prevent 

 the entrance of worms into the soil. They may be 

 covered with ashes instead of earth, the object being 

 to give them the benefit of the frost. 



A half dozen Scillas planted in the centre of one 

 of the large round gourds and surrounded with a bor- 

 der of white Crocus makes a very pretty show, and 

 will come into bloom in about three months from the 

 time of planting. The Ornithogalum is an effective 

 flower, and quite sure to bloom, but requires a rather 

 high temperature, as it is of slow development. 



Freesia bulbs deteriorate very rapidly once they 

 are out of the ground, and should be ordered early 

 and potted as soon as received. Plant a dozen in a 

 five- or six-inch pot, and set at once in a warm east 

 window, as these do not need to go to the cellar. 

 The leaves and stalks are very tender, and will re- 

 quire support, and this is the greatest objection to the 

 Freesia. Ashes in the soil will counteract this ten- 

 dency somewhat, and the wire carnation supports are 

 very neat and satisfactory. 



Alliums, which have the same defects, require the 

 same treatment. 



